Endgames from Wijk aan Zee (2)

by Karsten Müller
1/24/2023 – The much anticipated Tata Steel Chess Tournament is underway in Wijk aan Zee. GM Karsten Müller, our in-house endgame expert, continues to find instructive positions from the event in the Netherlands and shares his analyses with us. Find six such mini-lessons here. Enjoy! | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023
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Middlegame or endgame?

In a long battle from round 7, Amin Tabatabaei defeated Erwin l’Ami after making the most of his initiative against Black’s weakened king. But L’Ami had a far-advanced passer all along. 

 
Tabatabaei, M. Amin26861–0L'Ami, Erwin2627
85th Tata Steel Challengers 2023
Wijk aan Zee21.01.2023[Mueller,Karsten]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nbd7 6.0-0 c6 7.a4 a5 8.Qc2 b5 9.Ne5 Nxe5 10.dxe5 Nd5 11.axb5 cxb5 12.Nc3 Qb6 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Bxd5 Ra7 15.Qe4 Bc5 16.Bc6+ Bd7 17.Bxd7+ Rxd7 18.Qg4 a4 19.Qxg7 Rf8 20.Qxh7 Bd4 21.Qe4 Qb7 22.Qf5 Qd5 23.Bf4 Bxb2 24.Rad1 Qe6 25.Qb1 a3 26.Rxd7 Qxd7 27.Qe4 Rg8 28.Qa8+ Qd8 29.Qb7 c3 30.h4 Rg6 31.Bg5 Rxg5 32.hxg5 Qd7 33.Qb8+ Ke7 34.Qh8 a2 35.Qf6+ Ke8 36.Qh8+ Ke7 37.g6 fxg6 38.Qf6+ Ke8 39.e6 Qe7 40.Qh8+ Qf8 41.Qh7 Qe7 42.Qg8+ Qf8 43.Qxg6+ Ke7 44.Qe4 Qe8 45.Qb4+ Kf6 46.Qd4+ Kxe6 47.Qe3+ Kf7 48.Qa7+ Kf6 49.Qxa2 Qxe2 50.Qb3 Ke7 51.Qb4+ Kd7 52.Kg2
Middlegame or endgame, that is the question. Positions with queen and piece against queen and piece have middlegame and endgame elements. Here the middlgame aspect (safe king) is in White's favor and the endgame aspect (dangerous passed pawns) in Black's: 52...Qc4? Now Black's open king is defenseless. 52...Qe5‼ is the only move, as after 53.Rd1+ 53.Qg4+ Kc7 54.Qg6 Qd5+ 55.f3 Qd4= 53...Kc6 54.Qg4 Kb6 55.Qg6+ Kc5 56.Rd8 Kb4= Black's king is safe. 53.Rd1+! Kc6 54.Qe7
White continues the attack. Of course not 54.Qxc4+?? bxc4 55.Rd4 Kc5-+ 54...c2 55.Rd6+ Kc5 56.Rd8+ Kb6 57.Rb8+ Ka5 58.Ra8+ Kb6 59.Qa7+ Kc6 60.Rc8+ Kd5 61.Qd7+ 61.Qd7+ Ke5 61...Ke4 62.Re8+ Be5 63.f3+ Ke3 64.Rxe5+ Qe4 65.Rxe4# 62.Rxc4 bxc4 63.Qg7++- 1–0

Queen endgames are tough, even for Carlsen

Nodirbek Abdusattorov is the sole leader in the Masters, and he even defeated 8-time tournament winner Magnus Carlsen to climb up the standings! The youngster did it in round 5, after Carlsen missed a chance to save a draw in a queen endgame.

 
Carlsen, Magnus28590–1Abdusattorov, Nodirbek2713
85th Tata Steel Masters 2023
Wijk aan Zee19.01.2023[Mueller,Karsten]
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.e3 e5 5.Be2 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.0-0 Be7 8.Bb5 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Qc7 10.d4 cxd4 11.cxd4 exd4 12.Nxd4 Bd7 13.Nf3 Bf6 14.Ba3 Bxa1 15.Qxa1 0-0-0 16.Rc1 Kb8 17.Qxg7 Rhg8 18.Qb2 Bg4 19.Ne1 Rd1 20.Rxd1 Bxd1 21.Bf1 Ne5 22.h3 Bf3 23.Qd4 Rd8 24.Qh4 Bd5 25.Qxh7 Bc4 26.Bb2 Bxf1 27.Kxf1 Qc4+ 28.Kg1 Nc6 29.Nf3 Qxa2 30.Bf6 Rd1+ 31.Kh2 a5 32.Nd4 Qd5 33.Qc2 Qd6+ 34.f4 Rxd4 35.Bxd4 Nxd4 36.exd4 Qxf4+ 37.g3 Qxd4 38.h4 a4 39.Qa2 f5 40.h5 Qh8 41.Qxa4 Qxh5+ 42.Kg1 Qf3
The countercheck. In queen endings the defender often uses long series of checks to defend: 43.Kh2? Magnus misses the moment. 43.Qe8+ draws, e.g. Ka7 43...Kc7 44.Qe5+ Kb6 45.Qd4+ Ka5 46.Qd2+ Kb5 47.Qb2+ Kc4 48.Qa2+ Qb3 49.Qe2+ Qd3 50.Qe6+ Qd5 51.Qe2+= 44.Qa4+ Kb6 45.Qb4+ Kc6 46.Qc4+ Kd6 47.Qb4+ Ke6 48.Qb6+ Qc6 49.Qe3+ Kd7 50.Qd4+ Qd6 51.Qa4+ Kc7 52.Qc4+ Kb8 53.Qg8+ Ka7 54.Qa2+ Qa6 55.Qd5= 43...Qe2+ 44.Kg1?! 44.Kh3!? is more tenacious, but does not defend due to Qf1+ 45.Kh4 45.Kh2 b5 46.Qd4 Qe2+ 47.Kg1 Qe6 48.Qc5 Qd7-+ 45...b5 46.Qa5 Kb7 47.Kg5 Qc4 48.Kxf5 b4-+ 44...Qe5!
A very strong centralising move. 45.Kf2 b5 46.Qb4 Kb7 47.g4 fxg4 48.Qxg4 Kb6 49.Qg8 b4 Black wins as White's king is too far away from the drawing zone in the north-east corner and also cut off from it. 50.Kf3 Kb5 51.Kg2 After for example 51.Qf7 Qc3+ 52.Kg4 Ka4? 52...Qc4+-+ 53.Qa7+ Kb3 54.Kg5 Kc2 55.Kg6 b3 56.Qf2+ Kb1 57.Qg1+ Qc1 58.Qd4 b2 59.Kg7= White's king has reached the main drawing zone. 51...Qe2+ 52.Kg3 Qe3+ 53.Kg2 53.Kh4?! allows Qe1+ 54.Kh5 Qh1+ 55.Kg6 Qg1+ 56.Kh7 Qxg8+ 57.Kxg8 b3-+ 53...b3 54.Qb8+ Kc4 55.Qg8+ Kc3 56.Qc8+ Kd2 57.Qh8 Kc2 58.Qc8+ Kd1 59.Qh8 Qd2+ 60.Kg3?!
This makes it easy for Black. 60.Kh1!? is much more tenacious, as White's king should be as far away as possible, e.g. Qe1+ 61.Kh2 Qe2+ 62.Kh1 b2 63.Qd4+ Qd2 64.Qg4+ Kc1 65.Qc4+ Qc2 66.Qf4+ Kb1 67.Qd4 Qc6+ 68.Kg1 Qf3 A strong dominating move. 69.Qd2 69.Kh2 Kc2 70.Qc4+ Qc3 71.Qe4+ Qd3 72.Qa4+ Kc1-+ 69...Qg4+ 70.Kh2 Qh4+ 71.Kg1 Qc4 72.Qa5 Qd4+ 73.Kh1 Qd1+ 74.Kh2 Kc1 75.Qa3 Qd4 76.Kh1 Kc2 77.Qa2 Qb4 78.Kh2 Kc1-+ 60...b2 After 60...b2 61.Qh5+ Kc2 finally all checks can be met by counterchecks: 62.Qf5+ 62.Qc5+ Qc3+-+ 62...Qd3+-+ 0–1

A knight on the rim is dim

Wesley So showed his magnificent technique to beat Vincent Keymer in the sixth round of the Masters. An artificial knight move was the culprit of the German’s loss.

 
So, Wesley27601–0Keymer, Vincent2696
85th Tata Steel Masters 2023
Wijk aan Zee20.01.2023[Mueller,Karsten]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a4 b4 9.a5 Rb8 10.d4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 exd4 12.e5 Ne8 13.Qxd4 Rb5 14.Bc4 c5 15.Qd3 Rxa5 16.Rxa5 Qxa5 17.Nd2 Qc7 18.Nf3 h6 19.Bf4 Qc6 20.Bd5 Qb5 21.Qf5 Bb7 22.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.Rd1 Nc7 24.Rxd7 Rd8 25.h4 g6 26.Qd3 Qc8 27.Rxd8+ Qxd8 28.Qxd8+ Bxd8 29.Bxh6 a5 30.b3 Nb5 31.Bc1 Na3 32.c4 a4 33.g3
A knight on the rim is dim. Knights are concrete pieces: 33...Nb1? This is too artificial. 33...axb3 draws, e.g. 34.Nd2 f6 35.exf6 35.e6 Kf8= 35...Bxf6 36.Nxb3 Nxc4 37.Nxc5 Be7 38.Nb3 Kf7= 34.bxa4 b3?! This only weakens the pawn. 34...Nc3!? is much more tenacious, but should also lose in the long run, e.g. 35.Bg5 Bc7 35...Bxg5 36.hxg5 Nxa4 37.Nd2 Kf8 38.f4 Ke7 39.Kf2 Nb2 40.Ke3 Kd7 41.Ke4 Ke6 41...Kc6 42.e6 fxe6 43.Ke5 Kd7 44.Kf6+- 42.Nb3 Nxc4 43.Nxc5+ Ke7 44.Kd3 Na3 45.Nb3 Kd7 46.Nd4 Nb1 47.Kc4 Nd2+ 48.Kxb4 Ne4 49.Ne2+- 36.a5 Bxa5 37.Nd2 f5 37...Ne2+ 38.Kf1 Nc1 39.Nf3 Nb3 40.Ke2 Bc7 41.Kd3 Na5 42.Be3 b3 43.Bc1 Nc6 44.Bb2+- 38.exf6 Kf7 39.Nb3 Bb6 40.Kg2 Na4 41.Kf3 Nb2 42.Nd2 Bd8 43.Be3 Bxf6 44.Bxc5 Bc3 45.Ke2 Bxd2 46.Kxd2 Nxc4+ 47.Kc2+- 35.Kf1 Ba5 36.Bb2 Nc3 36...Bc3 is met by 37.Bxc3 Nxc3 38.Nd2 Nxa4 38...b2 39.a5 b1Q+ 40.Nxb1 Nxb1 41.Ke2+- 39.Nxb3 Nb6 40.Nxc5 Nxc4 41.f4+- 37.Nd2 Nxa4 38.Nxb3 Bb4 39.Bc1 Nb6 40.Nd2 Bxd2 41.Bxd2 Nxc4 42.Bc3
White's kingside majority will now decide the day. 42...Kf8 43.Ke2 Ke7 44.Kd3 Nb6 45.Ke4 Ke6 46.g4 Na4 47.Ba1 c4 48.Bd4 The knight on the rim is dominated for good. c3 49.Kd3 Kd5 50.h5 c2 51.Kxc2 51.Kxc2 Kxd4 52.h6 Kxe5 53.h7 Kf6 54.h8Q++- 1–0

Passed pawns must be pushed...

...but when there is more than one passer, you should figure out which one to advance down the board. Failing to do so cost Abhimanyu Mishra a half point in round 6. 

 
Mishra, Abhimanyu2559½–½Tabatabaei, M. Amin2686
85th Tata Steel Challengers 2023
Wijk aan Zee20.01.2023[Mueller,Karsten]
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Bd2 Be7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Qc2 a5 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Bc4 Qg5 14.g3 Bb4 15.0-0-0 Nd7 16.f4 Qe7 17.e4 Bxd2+ 18.Rxd2 Nb6 19.Be2 a4 20.h4 a3 21.b3 Nd7 22.Kb1 Rc8 23.Qd3 Qb4 24.Rc1 0-0 25.e5 Rfd8 26.h5 Nf8 27.Qc3 Qxc3 28.Rxc3 gxh5 29.Bxh5 Nd7 30.Kc2 Nb6 31.Bf3 Na8 32.b4 Nc7 33.Be2 Nd5 34.Rb3 Ra8 35.Bf3 Nc7 36.Kd3 Ra4 37.Ke3 Rda8 38.Rdd3 R8a6 39.Be4 Kf8 40.g4 g6 41.Rdc3 Ke7 42.Kd3 Ra8 43.Rc1 Rh8 44.Rh1 Rxh1 45.Bxh1 Ra8 46.Bg2 Nb5 47.Kc4 g5 48.fxg5 Rd8 49.Rd3 Rg8 50.Kc5 Rxg5 51.Bxc6 Nd6 52.Bd5 Kd7 53.Rxa3 b6+ 54.Kxb6 Nc8+ 55.Kc5 exd5 56.Rf3 Ne7 57.Rxf7 Rg8 58.Rf6 Rxg4 59.Rd6+ Kc8 60.a4 Rg1 61.b5 Rc1+ 62.Kb6 Rc4 63.a5 Kb8 64.Rd8+ Nc8+ 65.Ka6 Rxd4
Passed pawns should be pushed. This endgame guideline is often useful in races: 66.e6? White pushes the wrong passed pawn. 66.b6 wins, e.g. Rc4 66...Rb4 67.e6 Re4 68.Rxc8+ Kxc8 69.Ka7 Rb4 70.a6 d4 71.b7+ Kc7 72.e7 Kd7 73.Ka8 d3 74.a7 d2 75.b8Q Rxb8+ 76.axb8Q d1Q 77.e8Q# 67.b7 Rc6+ 68.Kb5 Kxb7 69.a6+ Rxa6 70.Rd7+ Kb8 71.Kxa6+- 66...Re4 67.Re8 Re1? Active defense loses here. Passive defense with 67...Rh4 68.b6 Rh7 69.Kb5 Re7 is called for, e.g. 70.Rxe7 Nxe7 71.a6 d4 72.Kc4 Nf5 73.Kd3 Ng7 74.e7 Ka8 75.Kxd4 Nf5+ 76.Ke5 Nxe7 77.Kd6 Nc8+ 78.Kc7 Nxb6 79.Kxb6 Kb8= 67...d4? 68.b6 d3 69.b7 Rc4 70.Rd8 Rc6+ 71.Kb5 Kxb7 72.a6+ Rxa6 73.Rd7+ Kb8 74.Kxa6+- 68.b6 Rb1 69.Rd8 Re1 70.Re8 Rb1 71.Rf8 Re1 72.Rf6?
Too passive. The direct blow 72.Rxc8+‼ wins: Kxc8 73.Ka7 Rb1 74.a6 d4 75.b7+ Kc7 76.e7 Kd7 77.Ka8 d3 78.a7 d2 79.b8Q Rxb8+ 80.axb8Q d1Q 81.e8Q# 72...d4 73.b7 d3 74.bxc8Q+ Kxc8 75.Rf8+ Kc7 76.Rf7+ Kc8 77.Rf8+ Kc7 78.Rf7+ Kc8 79.Rf8+ ½–½

Aronian’s technique

From an advantageous setup, Levon Aronian had no trouble showing the proper technique to get a full point in an endgame with bishop and knight against two bishops.

 
Aronian, Levon27351–0Keymer, Vincent2696
85th Tata Steel Masters 2023
Wijk aan Zee19.01.2023[Mueller,Karsten]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.Bc2 Re8 10.Re1 h6 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.d4 Bb7 13.d5 Nb8 14.b3 Nbd7 15.c4 c6 16.Nf1 a5 17.Be3 a4 18.h3 axb3 19.axb3 Rxa1 20.Qxa1 Qc7 21.Rc1 Ra8 22.Qb2 Qa5 23.Ng3 b4 24.Ne1 Nc5 25.Rd1 Nfd7 26.Nf5 cxd5 27.exd5 Bc8 28.Bd2 Nf6 29.Ng3 Be7 30.Nd3 Nxd3 31.Bxd3 Bd7 32.Bf5 Be8 33.Bb1 Bd7 34.f4 Re8 35.Rf1 Bd8 36.fxe5 Qc5+ 37.Kh2 Rxe5 38.Bf4 Re8 39.Qd2 h5 40.Bg5 h4 41.Bxh4 Qe3 42.Qxe3 Rxe3 43.Rf3 Rxf3 44.gxf3 Be7 45.Bf5 Be8 46.Bxf6 Bxf6 47.f4 g6 48.Ne4 Be7 49.Bc8 f5 50.Nf2 Bd8 51.Nd3 Ba5 52.Kg3 Kg7 53.Kf3 Kf6 54.Be6 Ke7 55.Ke2 Kf6 56.Bc8 Ke7 57.Ba6 Bf7 58.Bb5 Kf6 59.h4 Ke7 60.Kf3 Kf6 61.Nf2 Bb6 62.Nh3 Bd4 63.Ng5 Ke7 64.Ba6 Bb6 65.Bc8
Power play on the light squares. One strategy for knight and bishop against bishop pair is to start a power-play operation on the color complex the knight's bishop controls: 65...Be8? After the prophylactic 65...Kf6 White cannot win, e.g. 66.Nh3 Be8 67.Nf2 Ba4= 66.h5! The battering ram opens the gates. gxh5 66...Kf6 is met by 67.h6 Bd4 68.Be6 Bc3 69.c5 dxc5 70.d6+- 66...Bd4 67.Be6 Bf6 68.Ke3 Bg7 69.Bc8 Bf7 70.Kf3 Be8 71.Ke2 Bf7 72.Be6 Be8 73.Ke3 Bh6 74.hxg6 Bxg6 75.Nf3 Bg7 76.Nd4 Kf6 77.Bc8 Bf8 78.Bd7 Bg7 79.Nc6+- 67.Bxf5 Bd4 68.Ne4 What a powerful knight! Bf7 69.Bh7 Be8 69...h4 70.Bf5 Be8 71.Bg4 Bf7 72.Kg2 Be3 73.f5 Bd4 74.Kh3+- 70.Kg3 Bf7 71.Kh3 Be8 72.f5 Bb2 73.Bg6 Bd7 73...Bxg6 is met by 74.fxg6 Bf6 75.Nxf6 Kxf6 76.c5 dxc5 77.d6 c4 78.d7 Ke7 79.g7 cxb3 80.d8Q+ Kxd8 81.g8Q++- 74.Kh4 Bd4 75.Kxh5 Bc8 76.Kg5 Be3+ 77.Kg4 Bd4 78.Bh7 Bf6 79.Bg8
A real knightmare for Black's bishops! 79.Bg8 Ba6 80.Be6 Bb7 81.c5 Be5 82.cxd6+ Bxd6 83.f6+ Kf8 84.Nxd6 Bxd5 85.Kf5+- 1–0

Simplifying into a winning endgame

In the all-Dutch confrontation between Erwin l’Ami and Max Warmerdam, the former not only found a great tactical shot in the middlegame, but also forced a queen trade at the right time.

 
L'Ami, Erwin26271–0Warmerdam, Max2616
85th Tata Steel Challengers 2023
Wijk aan Zee20.01.2023[Mueller,Karsten]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 Qc7 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Bd2 Nc6 11.0-0-0 a6 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Kb1 b5 14.Ne2 Na5 15.Bxa5 Qxa5 16.e4 Be7 17.Qe3 Rc8 18.Nf4 0-0 19.exd5 Bd6 20.Bd3 Bxf4 21.Qxf4 Nxd5 22.Qd2 b4 23.Ka1 Qa4 24.h4 b3 25.a3 a5 26.Kb1 Rc7 27.h5 Rfc8 28.hxg6 Rc2 29.Rh8+ Kxh8 30.gxf7 Rxb2+ 31.Kxb2 Qxd4+ 32.Kb1 Qh4 33.Rc1 Rb8
The black knight's knightmare. Dominating a knight is an oft-used winning strategy: 34.Qe1 This leads to a winning endgame. According to the computer 34.Qf2+- is even stronger. 34...Qxe1 35.Rxe1 g5?! 35...Nc3+!? is more tenacious, but does not defend in the long run due to 36.Kc1 b2+ 37.Kd2 b1Q 38.Bxb1 Nxb1+ 39.Rxb1 Rd8+ 40.Ke3 g6 41.Rb6 Kg7 42.Rxe6 Kxf7 43.Ra6 Rd5 44.g4 g5 45.a4 Rc5 46.Kd4+- 36.Rxe6 Nc3+ 37.Kc1 Rf8 37...b2+ 38.Kd2 b1N+ 39.Bxb1 Nxb1+ 40.Kc1 Kg7 41.Re8+- 38.Re8 Kg7 39.Bc4 Black is almost completely dominated. a4 40.Kb2 Nd1+ 41.Kc1 Nf2 41...Nc3 42.g3+- Zugzwang is the sharpest endgame weapon. 42.Kd2 g4 42...Nh1 43.Kc3 Ng3 44.Re5 Kf6 45.Ra5 Nf5 46.Rxa4+- 43.fxg4 Nxg4 44.Bd5 Nf2 45.Rxf8 Kxf8 46.Bc6 b2 46...Kxf7 47.Bxa4 b2 48.Kc2 Nd1 49.Bc6+- 47.Kc2 Nd1 48.Bf3 Ne3+ 49.Kxb2 Nc4+ 50.Kc3!
A real knightmare for Black's knight. 50.Kc3! and Black resigned as after Nxa3 51.Be2! Nb1+ 52.Kc2 Na3+ 53.Kb2+- his knight is caught. 1–0

Let endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller show and explain the finesses of the world champions. Although they had different styles each and every one of them played the endgame exceptionally well, so take the opportunity to enjoy and learn from some of the best endgames in the history of chess.

Links

Karsten Müller is considered to be one of the greatest endgame experts in the world. His books on the endgame - among them "Fundamentals of Chess Endings", co-authored with Frank Lamprecht, that helped to improve Magnus Carlsen's endgame knowledge - and his endgame columns for the ChessCafe website and the ChessBase Magazine helped to establish and to confirm this reputation. Karsten's Fritztrainer DVDs on the endgame are bestsellers. The mathematician with a PhD lives in Hamburg, and for more than 25 years he has been scoring points for the Hamburger Schachklub (HSK) in the Bundesliga.

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